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CARM NEWSLETTER 04/02/2002
www.carm.org
from Matt Slick, Director.

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ATHEIST DEBATE UPDATE
In my last email newsletter I stated that I would be debating an atheist on the intellectual viability of atheism.  The title of the debate was "Is atheism intellectually tenable?"  Here's what happened.  

I opened the discussion by asking the question and after a minute or so of discussion, I told the atheist that there was a sense in which atheism was intellectually tenable (rationally defensible).  I said that the only way atheism could be intellectually defended is in the logical statement "atheism is a possibility."  That is, it is possible that atheism is true.  However, I quickly added that just because something is possible, does not mean that it is true.  It is possible that there are such things as invisible, pink, unicorns and flying, yellow, elephants -- which, of course, we don't believe exist.  But, just because it is "statistically possible" does not mean it is true.  Other than that, atheism needs to survive in a vacuum by negating any theistic proofs for God's existence.  Atheism has nothing to offer by way of its defense as a positive position.  It can only exist as a remote possibility, without evidence, and only if it can refute proofs and evidences for God's existence.  The problem is, that even if it does refute theistic proofs, it hasn't proven atheism true since atheism is essentially a negative position and it is extremely difficult to prove a negative.

Well, the "debate" continued for a little while until the atheist started accepting callers.  Now, I ask you, when does a debate mean that we take phone calls?  It stops being a debate at that time.  Anyway, the callers, who for some strange reason were all atheists, started firing the same questions at me about evil in the world, why would God flood the world, etc.  I ended up fielding a host of questions and attacks against Christianity.  In all, the "debate" ended up being a Q & A session where the atheists were on the attack.  Actually, I enjoyed it.  I even said, on the air, that I would love to discuss another issue with him, to which he agreed.  We'll see what happens.

If any of you listened and/ore tried to call in to the show, I'd love to know. 

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IHOP:  10 PM
I have a friend who is an eager beaver when it comes to apologetics.  He's young, full of energy and a strong desire to defend the Christian faith.  Praise God.  His name is Aaron.  Aaron called me up a couple weeks ago and said he discovered a group of Christian youth (in their early 20's) who meet at a local IHOP (International House of Pancakes) on Sunday nights around 10PM to talk about philosophy, Christianity, logic, evidences, etc.  My ears perked up.  "When can I go?" I asked.      Sunday night, I went.

I walked into this group of bigenerians (people in their 20's) and within one minute I was answering questions.  One guy after introducing himself said, "Hey, I went to the same seminary you did a couple years ago.  They are still passing around your notes."  I smiled.  He then fired a few questions at me on theology.  After two hours of bible discussions (and me proving everything I believe is correct and everything they disagreed with me about was wrong -- just kidding), I dragged myself out of there looking forward to the next meeting.  

In all, they are a bunch of neat kids (sorry if you're a bigenarian -- I'm 45, a quadragenarian and people 20 years younger than me are kids).  

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CARM CONVENTION
The CARM convention on the weekend of June 21st in Colleyville, Texas, is progressing nicely.  The CARM link for it is http://www.carm.org/more/carmconvention.htm.   As I said in the last email, several speakers are lined up.  In fact, it looks like we might have 10 speakers.  With 20 rooms and a main sanctuary to work with, this will be a busy convention with lots of subjects to choose from.  If you can't make it, we should have tapes and videos available afterwards on CARM.  However, if you could get there, make sure you come up and introduce yourself.  But remember, I am very bad with names.... so bad, that I have to look at my wife's picture with her name written on it before I walk in the house after work each day.  It is embarrassing when you get your wife's name wrong -- especially when you stare at the kids like you've never seen them before.  Of course, my wife just rolls her eyes, points the kids out, tells me they are all ours, what their names are, their ages, that she is my wife, what her name is, and then it usually all comes back to me.  I'd tell you what her name is but the picture is in my car.
 
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT 
Remember, CARM is a non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Would you please consider supporting CARM financially? I'm asking for people to donate FIVE dollars a month, just five bucks a month. If enough people did that, I could move into CARM full-time.  Can you afford five dollars a month? Is CARM worth it? If you think it is and if you've been blessed by CARM's ministry and really want to see it continue to give free, accurate information on the web, then please check out http://www.carm.org/goods/donations.htm. Signing up takes only about two minutes. There is a way to contribute there by automatically having five dollars deducted from your credit card monthly. It is easy to set up and you can cancel it anytime.  Please pray about it and, hopefully, help out.

One more thing, thanks a bunch for all the donations on the Printer.  I haven't purchased it yet, but we have enough donations to buy it.  Praise God and thanks to all who have supported this ministry.

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